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High Performance Production through 3D-Printing

High Performance Production through 3D-Printing

Additive manufacturing (AM) technologies have been identified as one of the most promising production technologies at global level. They are considered to empower the transition from mass production to mass customization in several leading sectors. However, 3DP capabilities and actors still operate in largely disconnected and fragmented value chains in Europe. This is partly due to fragmented efforts in technology deployment; it is also due to a lack of connection between AM technology suppliers and aggregated demand. The key objective of the Vanguard 3DP Pilot is to accelerate market uptake of 3DP applications in the EU through development of industry-led, transregional demonstration platforms. The key point of focus is on ‘demonstration’, i.e. activities beyond ‘prototyping’ (> TRL5), and thus NOT on joint R&D projects. The focus lies also on cross-regional demonstration, i.e. showing a clear added value compared to what already exists at regional level. Finally, it targets activities with high business relevance, i.e. industry-led. Bringing prototypes to production by securing the reproducibility of application remains a critical point for the industry. This is where this pilot aims to make a difference.

CONNECT (June – May 2016): analysis of mapping results led to the identification of specific opportunities for interregional joint-demonstration.

CONNECT-DEMONSTRATE (since mid-2016): identification of cross regional business opportunities, co-development of business plans and search for funding. We are now entering the final, fifth step: implementation of new value chains and commercialisation.

The main objective for 2017-2018 is to materialize the identified synergies, wide and expanding industrial interest and regional commitment into a (sustainable) pipeline of effective industrial projects. In this context, the specific objectives below will be pursued:

Ensuring efficient operational governance and organization

Identifying and securing funding for Pilot activities and demonstration cases

Facilitating and supporting the effective implementation of the “demonstrate phase”

Identifying new cases and reinvigorating some existing ones

Support cross-Pilot Activities, when they refer to the launch of pilot’s projects and demo-cases (e.g. collective submission of a H2020 proposal with another pilot, but not support for e.g. implementation of cross-pilot communication strategy).

Democase: 3D-Prinded Hybrid Component

Objective: This project is going to demonstrate innovative hybrid multi-material components that can take advantage by 3DP technology.

Objective: The case aims at integrating additive & subtractive technology production flows to enable a quick, professional analysis of several production process set-ups by the participating companies. The objective is to develop a digitally connected network of pilot lines / production hubs able to produce in a cost effective way one piece or small product series with an extreme high precision, high finish and added value, combining additive and subtractive technologies for non-market specific applications

Objective: To set up a demonstration platform to help SME’s overcome the entrance barriers to additive manufacturing with a minimum of risks. A European network of experience, competences and resources covering all aspects of AM, from redesign to pre-production, supports with tangible facts technical and economical validation on real life applications.

The platform is focused on mature AM technologies implementation and is close to industrial expectations and requirements. It is a demonstration platform dealing with SME’s problems and likely to generate R&D requirements based on industrial requests, but its main scope is to demonstrate usefulness of sofa technologies.

Objective: The case aims at developing cross regional demonstration activities in the fields of 3D printed external orthosis and internal implants/prostheses. In the long term, the main objective is to demonstrate the feasibility, the value, the sustainability and the efficacy, as well as safety, of the 3DP technology once applied to medical problems. From the original domain of external devices (orthotics, prosthetics, braces, splint, insoles, etc.) we have recently enlarged the potential spectrum to any device, including implants, prostheses, organs, dental, etc.

Objective: This case would focus on creative industries and would address topics that still have to defined (but could include e.g. design rules, etc. (subject to change). The following sectors could be, among others, considered: furniture/toys, footwear, wearables, etc.

Leading region: Norte (orga: INEGI)

Participating / Co-leading regions: Lombardy (IT), Catalonia (ES)

Organisations: Cofindustria, Leitat

Contact person: Vanessa Santiso, vsantiso [at] inegi.up.pt

Democase: 3DP inTextile

Objective: A preliminary (broad) common challenge was identified but is still subject to change: ‘towards an easy, cheap and quick use of Fused deposition modelling (FDM) on Fabrics’.